Briones eyes review of DepEd spending

MANILA, Philippines – Education Secretary Leonor Briones will focus on improving the way the department spends its funds.

“I decided to examine DepEd’s financial resources…this is a matter of extreme urgency.” 

Briones announced during a turnover ceremony on Monday, July 4, at the DepEd Main Office in Pasig City. The new education secretary talked about the importance of education in society and how everything that happens is blamed on education. “If there is a flood, it means we did not educate them on disaster, if there is elections and the winner was not according to our desires, something is wrong with our education system,” she said. 

Briones said the Philippines still failed to meet the international standards for education’s budget allocation. While DepEd has the lion’s share of the 2016 budget at P404 billion, this is barely 3% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). (READ: Next president limited by Aquino admin budget for 2 years – Briones)

According to the United Nations, each country must allot at least 6 percent of their GDP for the education sector.

But apart from pushing for a bigger slice of the pie, procedures should be efficient and financing should be prudent, according to Briones, who taught public fiscal policy at UP Diliman and is a long time advocate of citizen involvement in budget monitoring. 

Reforms under K to 12

Briones also tackled issues on K to 12 in her message, recalling how she was with former DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro during this year’s opening of classes.

This year saw the addition of two more years in the country’s 10-year Basic Education Curriculum through the Senior High School Program. Protests met K to 12 implementation, with teacher and youth groups pleading the Supreme Court to halt its launch.

“You would have to use a lamp to find teachers who have been laid off because of K to 12. In truth, we are actually in need of more teachers,” Briones said.

Admitting that the government still lacks facilities, textbooks, classrooms and teachers to implement K to 12, Briones called on other departments to ensure the program’s success.

“No one person can initiate reforms alone. I have the entire educational system – both the public and private sector – in heading the department,” she said.

Calling DepEd an “old and venerable house,” Briones vowed to make sure nothing would tarnish the department during her term.

‘Seamless transition’

In his final message, Luistro dubbed the transition process for DepEd as one of the most seamless compared to other departments.

“Secretary Briones is a veteran in her advocacy for the country’s budget, which means that she will see the things that I missed during my term,” Luistro said.

“She will use the budget as a means to push for the implementation of programs. This is a good step to the next phase of reform, and there’s no doubt that Secretary Briones can handle this well,” he added. – Arra Francia/Rappler.com